Commemorating a Century

Founders Stephen Duggan, Sr. and Nobel laureates Elihu Root and Nicholas Murray Butler envisioned IIE as a central coordinating hub to establish political, economic, and cultural collaboration between students, scholars, and institutions worldwide. IIE was one of the first institutes to advocate for international exchange, pioneering some of the earliest scholar and student exchanges between the United States and countries around the world.

IIE has a century-long legacy of working with foundation, government, and corporate partners to develop and manage some of the world’s most-prestigious educational and cultural exchange programs, including the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Language Flagship. Over the decades, we have expanded our work to additional facets of international education, including workforce training and opportunities for women and girls in STEM fields, and students affected by conflict and natural disasters.

IIE has grown from three people in 1919 to more than 600 in 2023, united by our founders’ belief in the power of international education. For a look back at moments that commemorated our centennial anniversary in 2019, download our Centennial Report. Your continued generosity will help expand access to education and to create pathways not only to individual growth and opportunity, but also to development, stability, and sustainable peace.

Your support is critical in helping us further our mission and in responding to global crises impacting students, scholars, and artists. Learn more.